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W. E. WALKER. FIRE LADDER.

No. 524,495; Patented Au 14, 1894.

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WILLIAM E. WALKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO LAFAYETTE GRIFFITH,CHARLES F. HUNT, FREDERICK W. RIDER, AND JOSEPH F. LA

FLEUR, or SAME PLAoE.

FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,495, dated August14, 1894.

Application filed September 2, 1893. Serial No. 484,626. (No model.)

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Ladders, of whichthe following is a specification, reference beng had therein to theaccompanying drawlngs.

This invention relates to improvement in fire ladders and it consists inthe c nstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described anddefinitely pointed out in the claims. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevatron of my improved truckshowing the ladder down. Fig. 2 is a Vertical, longitudinal, sectiontherethrough, showing a slightly modified form of truck. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the truck showing the ladder extended. Fig. 4 is across section on line as m in Fig. 3, showing the actuating devices forthe ladder enlarged and in elevation. Fig. 5 is a section on line y yFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a diagram side elevation, showing the sections of theladder turned from the horizontal to their extension position ready tobe extended. Fig. 7 is a cross section through the ladders as shown inFig. 2, illustrating the construction of the ladder and the connectionbetween the sections thereof.

I have shown two different forms of truck (Figs. 1 and 2) either ofwhich may be used, and that which I prefer, is shown in Fig. 2,consisting of the frame A, having the front arch B and the rear arch O,beneath which the front and rear wheels E and F respectively may beturned. The rear wheels or rear truck is provided with any suitablesteering device, such as illustrated in Fig. 2, with the tubular archedframe. Either pair of wheels may be turned at'right angles to the truckand the ladder moved to or from a building as-desired, or at rightangles to its extension, so as to present the greatest amount ofresistance to prevent its moving when in use. Centrally upon this truckis a turn-table G pivoted to the frame and supporting the ladder. Theladder consists of a lower section a, the middle section b and the uppersection a, the lower section is provided at its lower a new and useful iare sheaves at the lower end of the ladder, preferably at each sidethereof, over which a rope or cord j passes, one end of the cord beingfastened rigidly to the cross-bar g at a point adjacent to and above thewinding drum k, and the other end passing over the winding drum 7cjournaled in the frame, as shown in Fig. 5. By this construction a mostperfect leverage is obtained and the ends of the ladder can be moved inthe grooves c with but small 'exertion of power. This winding drum atthe side is provided with a gear wheel Z with which a pinion Z engages,the shaft of this pinion beingprovided with a crank handle m forrotating the drum. and winding the cord upon the same to draw the end ofthe ladder toward the turn-table, the latter being guided in the slotse.This motion will rock it from the horizontal position,

shown in Fig. 2 to the vertical .or inclined ladder will be held in thatposition ready for extension,being fulcrumed upon the roller f.

While the ladder is in its elevated position it is firmly held in placeand prevented from swinging back or its upper end out, by the cord orrope j which holds the lower end of the ladder fixedly in the end of theguide ways and the portionv immediately above firmly on the fulcrumrolls f.

The construction of the ladder is shown in detail in Fig. 7. Each laddercomprises the side bars at and rounds o, the side bars being coveredwith metallic plates p provided on the sides with ways q. The metallicplates 19 extend the entire length of the side-bars and are bent overthe top and bottom of the bars, forming by this construction aladderhaving practically fire-proof side bars. Another ad vantage is that theends'of the side-bars are protected from the walls of the building,which are often rough and uneven or heated by the conflagration, and bycovering their ends with metal, the ladder will be protected and not soliable to wear and tear, without adding materially to their weight orcost of manufacture.

a" are flanged plates secured to. the sides of each ladder with theflanges engaging the guide grooves of the other ladder or section, asplainly illustrated in Fig. 3.

The elevating device of my ladder consists of a single rope connected atits lower end with a winding drum H which is pivoted at v the lower endof the lower section of the ladder, and is provided with suitable gearfor actuating the same. This rope is looped over the sheave I at theupper end of the lower section, the sheave J at the lower'end of thesecond section and the sheave K at the upper end of the second section,the end of the rope being connected with the lower end of the thirdsection, the whole forming an elevatlon rope looped over sheaves at theopposite ends of the adjoining sections of the ladder. Now when theladder has been turned to the position shown in Fig. 6, to elevate it,the operator simply has to turn the crank handle M for actuating thewinding drum. This will draw upon the rope and will first extend theupper section, the middle section being balanced by the draft applied inopposite directions at both ends, until the upper section has reachedits limit of movement. Then the second section will be elevated by meansof the power applied to the lower end of the second section. When thesecond section has been raised to its limit and the actuating cranklocked to its adjusted position, the ladder will beat its limit ofextension.

Upon the upper section of the ladder I secure a section of pipe 0 oflength corresponding to the length of such upper section and provided atits lower end with a coupler 0 adapted to couple with a section of hose0 of a length corresponding substantially to the length of the middlesection'of the ladder, which middle section is provided with acorresponding coupler 0 adapted to couple with the section P, whichextends down to the truck. This lower section is engaged with thewinding drum Q which is formed beside the winding drum H upon the sameshaft; as the shaft H is turned in elevating the ladder, the hose willbe unwound and drawn up with the extension of the ladder, and if but asingle section is required the hose may be uncoupled and the hose fromthe engine coupled to the ladder section to carry the stream to the top.The rotation of the crank M in lowering the ladder will wind the hoseabout the drum Q.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a fire ladder, the combinationwith the truck'frame, of ladder sections thereon, in: clined guide-waysin the truck frame, rollers on the lower end of the ladder sectionsengaging said guide-ways, rotatable bearings on the frame for theladders, sheaves on the lower portion of the ladder located between therotatable bearings and the lower ends of the ladder, a winding drum onthe frame and a cord passing from the winding drum over the sheaves andhaving its free end secured to the frame adjacent the rotatablebearings, substantially as described.

2. In an extension fire ladder, the combination of side bars connectedby rounds, of metallic plates covering the sides of the bars andextending over the top and bottom faces thereof, grooves in said plateson the sides,

flanged plates at the ends of the ladder sections having their flangesengaging in said grooves and adjustably securing the sections together,substantially as described.

3. In a fire ladder the combination with a truck frame, of a ladderthereon, a fulcrum for the ladder, a winding drum below the fulcrum,means on the frame for limiting the backward movement of the lower endof the ladder, and a rope on the drum passing around the lower end ofthe ladder, extending rearward and over a projectionof the ladder andhaving its outer end fixedly secured to the frame at a point adjacent tothe fulcrum, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM E. WVALKER.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, OTTO F. BARTHEL.

